BRIAN HOWARD is confident that eight victories from Town's last 12 matches will bring the club within 'touching distance' of automatic promotion.

The 21-year-old midfielder knows there is still a long way to go before anyone starts popping champagne corks but there is no disguising the excitement oozing from the youngster as Town prepare for a mouthwatering battle at Plymouth Argyle this weekend.

Howard and his colleagues spent yesterday recovering from a tough and sometimes physical battle with Brentford before bounding onto the training pitch this morning.

He said: "The determination and team spirit here is fantastic. We weren't at our best on Saturday but people were picking each other up and driving them on.

"We are touching distance away.

"We have a chance of achieving something that hasn't happened at this club for quite some time.

"If you are going to win promotion you need to be a strong unit and capable of getting stronger. That's us at the moment.We've come this far and no-one wants to fall now. The league table shows we have 60 points with 12 games to go.

"I think maybe eight wins (24 points) from those remaining games would leave us there or thereabouts.

"Having said that, we will go into every one of our remaining matches believing that we can win.

"I think our run is now 11 matches without defeat and we'll go to Plymouth on Saturday determined to make that 12."

Any promoted side needs a blend of silk and steel and Howard believes the players are becoming better at deciding when to play their football and when to really get 'stuck in'.

He said: "We are not afraid of battle and graft. We normally outplay teams and create lots of chances.

"Against Brentford I think we showed our battling qualities and we've proved we can adapt to the circumstances.

"The gaffer has pointed out to us that the only time we struggle is when we get frustrated with each other because we try to play 'total' football.

"It isn't going to happen in this division."

Town's magnificent run continues to be largely ignored by the football world and the lack of plaudits does not worry Howard one bit.

He said: "We were mentioned on a football programme I was watching the other night, but that's been it really.

"Still, it doesn't matter. If we're where we want to be on May 8, I'm sure all the boys will be happy to take the plaudits then.

"In the meantime, we're just focused on preparing properly and working hard ahead of the Plymouth match."

While those outside Wiltshire may largely have ignored Town's promotion charge, the same cannot be said of Town's supporters.

More than 1,400 of Town's 1,708 ticket allocation for Saturday's match at Home Park have already been sold with every likelihood that it could be an away-day sell out.

The club has pointed out that the match is all-ticket for Town fans with none being sold on the day of the game.

Business has also been brisk at the club box office with fans eager to snap up tickets for the Easter Saturday derby with Bristol City. The Town End will be sold out before the match and few tickets anywhere in the stadium are expected to be left on the day of the match itself.